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Robert Bales

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Robert Bales
Bales at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in August 2011
Born (1973-06-30) June 30, 1973 (age 51)
Norwood, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOhio State University
OccupationU.S. Army
SpouseKarilyn Bales
Details
DateMarch 11, 2012 (2012-03-11)
03:00 AFT
Location(s)Balandi and Alkozai villages of Afghanistan
Target(s)Afghan civilians
Killed16
Injured6
WeaponsAn M4 carbine affixed with M203 grenade launcher and an M9 sidearm; some victims were found with stab wounds in addition to gunshot wounds.

Robert Bales (born June 30, 1973) is a former United States Army staff sergeant who murdered sixteen Afghan civilians in Panjwai, Kandahar, Afghanistan on March 11, 2012. The incident has since been widely referred to in media reports as the Kandahar massacre.

In order to avoid the death penalty, Bales pleaded guilty to sixteen counts of murder and six counts of assault and attempted murder in a plea deal. On August 23, 2013, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.[1]

Early life and education

Bales was born on June 30, 1973,[2] and raised in Norwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, the youngest of five brothers. He attended Norwood High School. After high school Bales briefly enrolled at College of Mount St. Joseph, then transferred to Ohio State University, where he studied economics for three years, but left without graduating in 1996.[3][4][5][3]

After leaving college, Bales worked as a stockbroker at five financial services firms in Columbus, Ohio.[6] The firms were interrelated, sharing employees and corporate offices. During that period, while employed with Michael Patterson, Inc., Bales and the firm engaged in fraudulent securities activities.[6] An arbitration panel later found both Bales and his employer liable for financial fraud related to the handling of a retirement account and ordered them to pay $1.4 million in civil damages. Gary Liebschner, the victim, said he "never got paid a penny" of the award.[7] According to Liebschner's lawyer, they had not pursued legal action against Bales to collect the judgement because they were unable to locate Bales, who had joined the U.S. Army eighteen months after the long-running arbitration case was filed.[8]

In May 1999, while still employed with a securities firm in Ohio, Bales, his brother Mark, and Marc Edwards co-founded a financial services firm named Spartina Investments in Doral, Florida. The state dissolved Spartina in September 2000, after the company failed to file its annual report in a timely manner.[9]

Military service

Bales enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11.[10] He was initially assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry of the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in Fort Lewis.[11] He completed three tours in the Iraq War: twelve months in 2003 and 2004, fifteen months in 2006 and 2007, and ten months in 2009 and 2010.[3] During the 2007 tour he reportedly injured his foot in the Battle of Najaf,[3] and during the 2010 tour he was treated for traumatic brain injury after his vehicle was rolled in an accident.[11]

According to public records Bales had been involved in incidents while stationed at Fort Lewis which had resulted in the police responding. In 2002 he got into a fight with a security guard at a Tacoma area casino and was charged with misdemeanor criminal assault, but the charge was dismissed after he paid a small fine and attended anger management classes.[12] Another confrontation outside of a bar in 2008 was also reported to police, but no charges were filed.[13]

Bales was promoted to Staff Sergeant on April 1, 2008.[14] On February 1, 2012, he was assigned to Camp Belambai in Kandahar Province, where he was responsible for providing base security for U.S. Army Special Forces and U.S. Navy SEALs who were engaged in village stability operations.[15][16]

Kandahar massacre

Main article: Kandahar massacre

On the night of March 11, 2012, sixteen Afghan civilians were shot and killed in the villages of Balandi and Alkozai near Camp Belambai.[17][18] On March 24, U.S. Army investigators alleged that Bales was the only person responsible for the shootings and that the deaths were the result of two separate attacks. Investigators claimed that Bales returned to Camp Belambai after the first attack and that he left the camp an hour later to commit the second attack.[19][20]

A senior military official said Bales had been drinking alcohol with two other soldiers on the night of the shootings, in violation of military rules in combat zones.[21] According to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Bales acknowledged the killings and "told individuals what happened" immediately after being captured.[22] Minutes later he refused to speak with investigators and asked for an attorney.[23][24] Bales' civilian attorney John Henry Browne, who also represented serial killer Ted Bundy, later said, "I don't know that the government is going to prove much. There's no forensic evidence. There's no confession."[25] However, in May 2013, Browne reversed course, saying his client would confess to the massacre in return for avoiding the death penalty.[26] In total, the massacre included nine children, some as young as two years old, and four women.

Detention

The Joint Regional Correctional Facility, where Bales is being held

Bales was quickly transferred out of Afghanistan, stopping in Kuwait. The sudden transfer to Kuwait prompted a diplomatic uproar, as the Kuwaiti government heard about the Bales case from news reports before hearing from the U.S. government. "When they learned about it, the Kuwaitis blew a gasket and wanted him out of there", an unnamed official said.[21]

On March 16, 2012, Bales was flown from Kuwait to the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, a state-of-the-art, medium/minimum custody facility. According to U.S. Army Colonel James Hutton, Chief of Media Relations, Bales was being held in special housing in his own cell and was able to go outside the cell "for hygiene and recreational purposes."[19] In October 2012 he was transferred to Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.[27][28]

On March 23, 2012, the U.S. government charged Bales with seventeen counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder, and six counts of assault.[29] On June 1, the government dropped one of the murder charges, noting that one victim had been double counted.[30] Simultaneously, other charges were filed including abuse of steroids, alcohol consumption, and attempting to destroy evidence.[31] Assault charges were increased from six to seven.[30]

Trial

John Henry Browne defended Bales alongside military lawyers.[23][32] Browne was retained by the sergeant's family and has described Bales as "mild-mannered", and claims his client was upset after seeing a friend's leg blown off the day before the killings, but held no animosity toward Muslims.[33] "I think the message for the public in general is that he's one of our boys and they need to treat him fairly."[21][32] Browne has denied that the deadly rampage was caused by alcohol intoxication or marital problems and said that Bales was "reluctant to serve."[32] According to Browne, Bales did not want to return to the front lines. Browne said, "He wasn't thrilled about going on another deployment ... he was told he wasn't going back, and then he was told he was going."[34] Browne also criticized anonymous reports from government officials, stating "the government is going to want to blame this on an individual rather than blame it on the war."[21]

According to Gary Solis, an expert on war crimes and the military justice system, an insanity defense was likely. "It's hard to say whether the case will even go to trial because in war crimes like this it's very possible that there will be...an insanity defense, that he is unable to recognize the wrongfulness of his act because of a severe mental disease or injury".[35]

Bales had no history of mental disorder, and had undergone an expansive mental health screening to become a sniper in 2008.[11][36][37] In 2010 he suffered a concussion in a car accident, underwent traumatic brain injury treatment at Fort Lewis, and was deemed healthy. Investigators examining his medical history described his 10-year Army career as "unremarkable" and found no evidence of serious traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress.[11][23][36] A high-ranking U.S. official told The New York Times, "When it all comes out, it will be a combination of stress, alcohol and domestic issues - he just snapped."[21]

Under the U.S. military legal code, the death penalty was possible but required presidential approval.[35][38] Six military members were on death row, but none had been executed since Private First Class John A. Bennett was hanged in 1961.[35]

The first phase of the trial, an Article 32 hearing, began on November 5, 2012, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.[39] The hearing included eyewitnesses testimony from Afghanistan via a live video link; Bales did not testify. The hearing concluded on November 13, with the prosecutors requesting the death penalty.[40] It was subsequently decided that the government would indeed seek the death penalty.[41]

On May 29, 2013, it was announced that Bales would plead guilty and describe the events of the March 11, 2012, in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table.[41] On June 5, Bales plead guilty in a plea deal to sixteen counts of murder and six counts of assault and attempted murder. When asked "What was your reason for killing them?" he said he had asked himself that question "a million times" and added "There’s not a good reason in this world for why I did the horrible things I did".[42]

At the sentencing hearing, defense attorneys argued for a sentence of life with the possibility of parole, arguing that he was a troubled man who snapped, not a "cold-blooded murderer". Bales took to the stand to issue an apology to his victims, saying he would bring them back to life if he could. The prosecution, seeking life without the possibility of parole, closed their arguments with: "In just a few short hours, Sgt. Bales wiped out generations. Sgt. Bales dares to ask you for mercy when he has shown none."[43] On August 23, 2013, Bales was sentenced to life in prison without parole by a jury of six people.[1][44][45] He was also demoted to Private (E-1), the lowest possible rank, dishonorably discharged, and ordered to forfeit all pay and benefits.[27] A commanding general overseeing the court-martial has the option of reducing the sentence to life with the possibility of parole.[46] Afghan villagers and the families of Bales' victims were upset by the decision, saying he deserved death.[43][46] Bales is currently detained at Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.[27]

Personal life

Bales is married and has two young children. After the shootings the family was moved from its home in Lake Tapps, Washington, for their protection.[21][32][47]

Regarding the murders for which he was charged, Bales' wife Karilyn told People magazine: "I know my husband didn't do that. That's not Bob."[48] On CBS This Morning on July 2, 2012, Bales (captioned as Kari) said she had spoken often to her husband in detention, but never asked him about what happened in the Panjwai villages. "We just talk about family matters", she said.

The Bales were struggling financially and had put their home up for sale three days before the shootings.[49] The property was listed for $50,000 less than what they paid for it in 2005, and less than they owed the bank.[49]

Bales' wife blogged about her disappointment in her husband being passed over for a promotion to Sergeant First Class, "after all of the work Bob has done and all the sacrifices he has made for his love of his country, family and friends".[47]

Awards and decorations

Bales received the following awards:[50]

Silver oak leaf cluster
Width-44 myrtle green ribbon with width-3 white stripes at the edges and five width-1 stripes down the center; the central white stripes are width-2 apart
 Army Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
Width-44 ribbon with two width-9 ultramarine blue stripes surrounded by two pairs of two width-4 green stripes; all these stripes are separated by width-2 white borders Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal with three Good Conduct Loops
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes National Defense Service Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Width-44 ribbon with width-6 central ultramarine blue stripe, flanked by pairs of stripes that are respectively width-4 emerald, width-3 golden yellow, width-5 orange, and width-7 scarlet Army Service Ribbon
Width-44 ribbon with width-8 central brick stripe, flanked by pairs of stripes that are respectively width-2 golden yellow, width-10 grotto blue, and width-6 national flag blue Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Soldier Gets Life Without Parole in Deaths of Afghan Civilians". New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ U.S. Public Records Index Vol 1 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Dao, James. At Home, Asking How 'Our Bobby' Became War Crime Suspect New York Times March 18, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  4. ^ "Money, job strife dogged accused Afghan shooter". Army Times. Associated Press. 18 March 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  5. ^ "Suspect in Afghanistan shootings had fallen on hard times". Los Angeles Times. 17 March 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  6. ^ a b ""Afghanistan suspect had shaky business dealings", Businessweek.com; retrieved March 22, 2012.
  7. ^ "Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was found liable in financial fraud". The Washington Post. March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  8. ^ Henderson, Peter, and Jed Horowitz, "Afghan Shooting Suspect Did Not Pay Fraud Judgment", Reuters; March 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Profile of Bales, bloomberg.com/news, March 23, 2012.
  10. ^ "Afghan shooting suspect did not pay fraud judgment". Reuters. March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  11. ^ a b c d "US soldier accused in Afghan massacre had brain injury history". MSNBC. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  12. ^ "Robert Bales: 2002 assault case involved casino guard" www.latimes.com Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  13. ^ Baker, Mike and Manuel Valdes. "Soldier Accused of 2nd Assault", ABC News; retrieved March 22, 2012.
  14. ^ "Staff Sgt. Robert Bales identified in Afghan killings". Army Times. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  15. ^ "Lewis-McChord soldier accused in killings of Afghan civilians". KATU. March 11, 2012.
  16. ^ "Taliban fire on Afghan president's brothers at shooting memorial service". The Christian Science Monitor. Associated Press. March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  17. ^ "U.S. now counts 16 dead in Afghan massacre". USA Today. Associated Press. March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  18. ^ "U.S. servicemember opens fire on Afghans; at least 15 dead". USA Today. AP. 11 March 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Army Identifies Afghanistan Shooting Suspect". United States Department of Defense. March 17, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  20. ^ US Believes Accused Soldier Split Killing Spree AP via ABC News.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Accused G.I. 'Snapped' Under Strain, Official Says". The New York Times. March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  22. ^ "Afghan Massacre Suspect: 'I Did It'". ABC News. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  23. ^ a b c "'Barefoot Bandit' lawyer to defend soldier in Afghan murders". USA Today. 15 March 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  24. ^ "Afghan Delegation Comes Under Fire at Site of Massacre". ABC news. March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  25. ^ "Army Sgt. Robert Bales' lawyer questions evidence in Afghanistan killings". MSNBC. March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  26. ^ Johnson, Gene (May 29, 2013). "AP Exclusive: Soldier to Admit Afghan Massacre". ABC News. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  27. ^ a b c Johnson, Gene (November 5, 2012). "Prosecutor: US soldier had blood of victims on him". Seattle Times. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  28. ^ Ashton, Adam (October 16, 2012). "Staff Sgt. Robert Bales awaits hearing on Afghan killings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord". McClatchy. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  29. ^ Robert Bales to be charged with 17 counts of murder www.guardian.co.uk Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  30. ^ a b "Army drops one charge against soldier accused in Afghan massacre". Reuters. June 1, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  31. ^ Ashton, Adam, "Steroid Charges Against Bales Could Alter His Defense Strategy", Tacoma News Tribune, June 2, 2012.
  32. ^ a b c d "Afghan massacre US soldier 'reluctant to serve'". BBC. March 16, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  33. ^ "US army names Afghan killings suspect". Al Jazeera. March 17, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  34. ^ Willis, Amy (March 16, 2012). "US soldier accused of Afghan massacre did not want to return to frontline". The Telegraph. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  35. ^ a b c "Accused soldier in Afghanistan shooting could face death penalty, plead insanity". Fox News Channel. March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  36. ^ a b "Soldier Held in Afghan Massacre Had Brain Injury, Marital Problems". ABC News. March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  37. ^ "Soldier accused in Afghan killings on his way to Kansas base". CNN Wire Staff. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  38. ^ "After Afghan massacre, how deep are the wounds?". USA Today. March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  39. ^ Bonner, Raymond, "Did Accused Kandahar Killer Sgt. Bales Act Alone?", Newsweek, November 5, 2012.
  40. ^ Johnson, Kirk (November 13, 2012). "Army Seeks Death Penalty in Afghan Massacre". The New York Times.
  41. ^ a b Johnson, Gene (May 29, 2013). "AP Exclusive: Soldier to Admit Afghan Massacre". ABC News. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  42. ^ Kirk Johnson (June 5, 2013). "Guilty Plea By Sergeant In Killing Of Civilians". New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  43. ^ a b "Afghan villagers unsatisfied by life sentence for Bales". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. AP. August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  44. ^ "Staff Sgt. Robert Bales sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole for Afghanistan massacre that left 16 dead". NY Daily News via The Associated Press. August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  45. ^ Ashton, Adam (August 23, 2013). "Staff Sgt. Bales Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering 16 Afghan Cilvilians". The News Tribune via PBS Newshour. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  46. ^ a b "Afghan villagers angered by Bales life sentence". The Associated Press via USA Today. August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  47. ^ a b "Sergeant's Wife Kept a Blog on the Travails of Army Life". The New York Times. March 17, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  48. ^ Champ Clark (2012). "I Believe In my Husband". People Magazine: 66–69. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  49. ^ a b "Sgt Robert Bales: The story of the soldier accused of murdering 16 Afghan villagers". The Telegraph. March 17, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  50. ^ "Army Identifies Afghanistan Shooting Suspect" www.defense.gov Retrieved March 22, 2012.

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